Plumbing Tips for July 4th

Monday is Independence Day! Everyone here at Metro Plumbing, Heating, and Air wants to wish you all a great 4th of July and a reminder that it’s important to take care of your home’s plumbing during the holiday, especially if you’re planning a large get-together with guests who are staying over for the extended weekend. In addition to the regular cleanup you do before guests arrive, there are some precautions you should take to make sure everything is in good working order throughout the weekend.

Water Access

The ice maker in your fridge and the water line for any filtered water or instant coffee makers can occasionally get blocked or have kinks in the hose. If it stops working, double check hoses and filters to make sure they’re connected properly and flowing clear. Otherwise, call a professional to have the system fixed.

Drain Health and Scent

Water flowing through your system requires regular maintenance and regular flow to ensure peak efficiency. If you haven’t used the guest bathroom in a while, turn on all the faucets and flush the toilet a few times to clear the water lines in advance of your guests’ arrival.

Be cautious of what you’re flushing down the garbage disposal. Remember that your drain is not a dumpster or garbage chute. Never pour grease, bones, or fibrous material down the drain. A clog or backed-up sink can bring a great event to a screeching halt. Plunge the sink to clear it, then use vinegar and shredded lime peel poured through the disposal to clear the foul scent away if any is present.

Toilet Backups

Large groups, lots of food, it’s bound to happen. A clogged or backed up toilet is no laughing matter. Often times, people who don’t know how to deal with one properly are just going to make things worse. First, do not flush a second time. You’ll run the risk of overflowing. Use a plunger to unclog the toilet and let the water drain away. If the clog is due to having something other than toilet paper flushed down the drain, it may be difficult to dislodge.

The best alternative, is to shut off water to the room, close the door, and call a professional to clear the drain. That way you don’t risk making a worse mess that what already exists.

Gas System

This is especially important if you have gas-fed appliances or use a gas-fueled outdoor grill. Check the plumbing and fuel-supply for all gas appliances. Make sure that you have enough fuel and that the feed lines are working. Conduct a simple start test to make sure that the appliances you don’t use often are working in advance.

Hot Water

As with the gas system, if you have a gas boiler for hot water, making sure that you have plenty of fuel and that your hot water tank is in good repair is essential to delivering quality hot water for stay-over guests. Try to space out showers and hot water uses to make sure there’s enough to go around.

If anything goes wrong during the holiday weekend, rest assured that Metro Plumbing, Heating, and Air is ready to assist, 24/7. Just give us a call!